Read Online Freddy the Politician by Walter R. Brooks - Free Book Online

Bertram went down into the barnyard—he walked downstairs on his hands, which was pretty hard on Ronald, sitting on his perch in the little control room—and said in his loudest voice: “Hear ye! Hear ye!”
    The voice boomed out over the woods and meadows and hills, and all over the farm animals came out of their holes, or looked up from their work or their munching or their hunting, and pointed their ears toward the barnyard.
    â€œAnnouncement from Freddy,” roared Bertram. “There will be a meeting tonight in the big barn to make plans for the formation of the first animal republic. Have your nominations for the presidency ready. Dancing after the meeting. Bring your own refreshments.”
    Mrs. Bean looked up from Mr. Bean’s old carpet bag, which she was packing for the trip to Europe. “My land!” she exclaimed. “That Freddy is a card. What won’t he be up to next! First a bank and now a republic. Did you know about this, Mr. B.?”
    â€œ Oui, oui, ” said Mr. Bean, looking up from the book of French conversation he was studying. “That means ‘yes’ in French, Mrs. B., in case you don’t know.”
    â€œSakes alive, you talk it like a native, Mr. B.,” said Mrs. Bean admiringly.
    â€œ Oui, oui, ” said Mr. Bean again, proudly. “I guess I got a gift for languages. Well, yes, Mrs. B., I heard something about this republic. Sensible thing. They want to elect a president and have a regular government and all, to run things while you and I and the boys are away. I’ve always said there wasn’t no animals anywhere that could beat ’em for goodness and kindness—and smartness too. But now I say there ain’t any can beat ’em for responsibility.”
    â€œWell,” said Mrs. Bean, “they’ve had a good example set for them—that’s why.”
    â€œYes, I expect I have set ’em an example of responsibleness. But I know who’s set ’em an example of goodness and kindness—and smartness too, Mrs. B.”
    â€œGet along with you,” said Mrs. Bean, combing out the tassel of Mr. Bean’s spare nightcap before tucking it into the bag. “Let me hear you say that in French.”
    So Mr. Bean began thumbing through his French book. But Jinx, who had been dozing on a clean calico dress in Mrs. Bean’s suitcase under the bed, grinned to himself, then tiptoed out to report the conversation to Freddy.

VII
    There wasn’t much work done on the Bean farm that afternoon, though there was a good deal of activity. Animals hurried back and forth across the barnyard and gathered in groups to talk and argue, and there were even one or two fights among the rougher element down by the creek on the edge of the woods—the water rats and weasels. Freddy was a little worried when he learned that the bank had closed early and that the three woodpeckers were making a nest-to-nest canvass of all the birds on the farm. “Fine way to run our bank!” he said to himself. And he was even more worried when he met old Simon, the rat, and his son, Ezra, coming round the corner of the barn. For the rats had not been seen in the barnyard for over two years—not since the famous trial for murder in which Freddy had so ably defended Jinx against the false charge made by the rats of having killed and eaten a crow.
    Simon grinned wickedly at the pig.
    â€œAh, my clever friend,” he said, “still a trifle overweight, are you not?”
    â€œYou’d better not let Jinx see you, Simon,” said Freddy, “or you’ll lose a lot more weight than you can afford to. What are you doing here, anyway? You’re not supposed to come up near the barn.”
    â€œAs a free citizen of this new republic of yours, I am exercising my rights,” said the rat. “I presume you won’t deny us our votes?”
    â€œNo,” said Freddy. “No. Though I’d